Our History
History is the record of the doings of people complied in after years, along with whatever deductions may be drawn from the oral and written accounts of the time and people. It is important because it concerns the doings of our ancestors and is loaded with the memories of those who in earlier years, laid the foundation, in hope of what we see today as an established fact. History is generally made and passed along with no special foresight of future importance; but in after years, amid the rise and fall of things temporal or spiritual, the past becomes sacred. Those of us who live to stand on this foundation grow exceedingly anxious to know of the hands that such a foundation, as well as the motives that prompted their course. It is then that a record in readable shape becomes due and demandable.
In keeping with the long established custom, we submit to the public some of the doings of the Saint Galilee Missionary Baptist Church from its organization in the year of our Lord 1877 to the present time; a period of 147 years.
The church was organized about the third Sunday in April 1877. The old pioneers who blazed the way and laid the foundation were Rev. Henry Holloway, Rev. Daniel Rozier, and Rev. Pompey Drisdom. The first pastor was Rev. Henry Holloway and the first deacons were Dolphus Brown, Peter Harmon, Willis Grubbs, George Slayman, and Freeman Williams.
Over the years, Saint Galilee has had many persons who have played vital roles in the development of this great church. For lack of space, we shall not name all of these individuals, but their service and dedication is hereby acknowledged in the church history. We pause to salute the pioneers for their efforts, who, without a doubt, put God in front and in spite of small financial gain were able to hold on, carry on, and push forward.
Saint Galilee has had 21 pastors. They are as follows: Rev. Henry Holloway, rev. Nathan Wilkerson, rev. Joe Young, Rev. P.M. Merrion, Rev. Andrew Moring, Rev. H.H. Harris, Rev. J.C. Cooper, Rev. A.R. Coing, Rev. H.H. Coleman, Rev. O.S. Scott, Rev. G.W. Thornton, Rev. S.R. Parrish, Rev. A. Pool, Rev. S.M. Conner, Rev. I.B. Teems, Rev. I.H. McLendon, Rev. M.J. Jeffers, Rev. Ed. D. Brinson, Rev. L.T. Southerland, Rev. Patrick Jones, and present pastor, Rev. Michael Thomas, Sr.
Ordained Ministers: Rev. W.W. Weatherspool, Rev. B.T. Williams, and Rev. R.L. Allen
Deacons were: W.F. Allen, Sandy Williams, Joseph Bynes, Tom Allen, Rufus Cross, Robert Allen, Brantley Parker, Willis Burnett, Benjamin Frank Allen, and Larry Allen
Present Deacons: Nathaniel Billups, Woodrow Billups, Jr., and Cecil Strong, Sr.
Over the years Saint Galilee has undergone many physical changes. Some of these changes include: new building erected in 1904, new pews installed, well was drilled, instillation of bathrooms, carpet installed, pews padded, purchased new pulpit chairs, central heating and air installed, interior sanctuary of church renovated, annex added with a pastor’s study and bathrooms, fellowship hall with kitchen, new stain glass window installed in the sanctuary, new keyboard purchased with a sound system, lighted yard church sign, new directional signs to the church, pastor’s study refurbished, yearly calendar with monthly church events printed, central heating and air in the fellowship hall and pastor’s study, new chairs for choir stand and fellowship hall, handicapped ramp added to back of church, restrooms renovated, public address system installed in the fellowship hall, the grounds are being landscaped, new hymn books and bibles donated, a refrigerator was donated, new televisions used to broadcast church activities installed throughout the sanctuary and fellowship hall, the development of a new Facebook page, and several things are in the planning stage for the future.
We are very fortunate to have Rev. Michael Thomas as our pastor. Truly he is a man with a vision of “Kingdom Living.”
We are happy to be a part of this great organized body of baptized believers. Since we, who are here, have been helped along the way by those who have served and gone before us, we too must so inspire those coming on that so that the light will continue to burn through them, until a new generation has caught the gleam and has gone steadily marching on.
As proud as we are of our Church, we are constantly praying to stay humble enough to be of services that the Master may be able to point with pride to us as those who’ve kept the faith, stayed the course and fought for right and righteous fight. Today and always, we remember them.
